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24 Jan 2011 15:02:06
Muscle-man Mark Lewis from the University of Bedfordshire had more reason than most to enjoy a festive break after a hectic and successful 2010.
As well as being Professor of Exercise Biochemistry and Cell Biology, he is Head of the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences based at the Bedford campus.
He also heads the Muscle Cellular and Molecular Physiology (MCMP) Research Group, which is part of the Institute of Sport and Physical Activity Research (ISPAR) within the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences.
Professor Lewis has continued his research work after winning a half million pound grant in summer 2009 to advance knowledge and application for the replacement, refinement and reduction of animal experiments.
The £500,000 grant from the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) is helping him lead a project with Linda Greensmith and Vivek Mudera from University College London into ‘engineering fully functional integrated skeletal muscle’.
Professor Lewis, whose specialism is muscle physiology, said: “It’s been a busy time since I joined the University in September 2009! A year ago, we had absolutely nothing and the old biochemistry lab where we are now based was just a shell.
“We’re now fully up and running, after starting with just myself and two PhD students. There are now seven PhD students and two post doctorates (Research Fellows) in Adam Sharples and Samantha Passey. We’ve also made two significant grant applications during the last year.”
Adam, who joined in September 2010, said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working here. The campus is close knit and the labs are excellent and as good as I’ve seen elsewhere.”
Professor Lewis, who is also a visiting professor at Cranfield and Loughborough universities, continued: “We’ve built up a solid relationship with Cranfield, as indeed we have with our own LIRANS (Institute of Research in the Applied Natural Sciences) at the Butterfield Park campus and of course we now use the Bedford iLab at Priory Business Park as our molecular biology lab. We have also expanded into firstly two and now three rooms at the Bedford campus.”
He has also overseen a massive expansion in the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, with increased undergraduate numbers and three new Masters courses which started in October. A review of the undergraduate programme has led to a more STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) based approach, which has in turn helped to bring in some high-quality students.
He said: “There’s brilliant staff and a great lab and the students seem to enjoy being here. We’ve made some top appointments and recruited some leading PhD students. It’s all about the quality, rather than the quantity. I wanted to make sure we are offering a quality product.
“We have to keep the momentum going in 2011; we are always looking forward, rather than resting on our laurels.”
Latest news» 2011» January» Muscle team are refreshed for work ahead
